Web Developers Default-Mode Network (DMN)

Updated21 October 2018reading time

What Is It?

The Default-Mode Network (DMN) is a concept that the brain is more active when the body is passively resting (daydreaming, mind-wandering), rather than say, at school attentively listening to the teacher.

The term was coined by a neurologist in 2001 Marcus Raichle. It’s only recently in 2007 that research has been picked up on this. And now I believe we have more answers.

Daydreaming again, man?

The DMN presents more brain activity when we’re passively resting e.g. doing absolutely nothing staring into the blankness that is in front of you (this may happen between workout sets), gardening, or any other area where you might see yourself daydreaming.

Passive rest means resting without you knowing you are doing it. It may be hard to imagine, but in 1 day you are committing to 80% habit/routine, and 20% of unique action.

And in that 1 day, you include passive rest (daydream) 2 minutes or so. Maybe you take a short nap too? It’s in these nothingness that the brain becomes more active than it would be learning something new.

Uses of the DMN

Now that we know more about the brain e.g. the Subconscious mind floods more than 95% of your brain (the part where dreams are), and you can only control 5% (Conscious) of what you do.

Yet, that 5% seems more intensive to the brain and is where learning something new happens.

That means we can use the DMN for:

Mind breaks, where you do a completely different task for 5 minutes, after 25 minutes of work, using the Pomodoro Technique

Understanding that daydreaming is a good thing (to get some headspace)